Site Gallery wins Freelands Artist Programme Award

Site Gallery has this week been awarded £375,000 by Freelands Foundation to support 20 Sheffield-based artists over the coming 5 years.

Over a 5-year period, 20 Sheffield-based artists will receive an investment of £10,000 each, specialist support and professional development.

The programme will draw together partners in the city to support the selected artists.

The Freelands Artist Programme is a new visual arts funding programme that provides over £1.5 million support to national institutions looking to champion emerging talent. The UK-wide initiative is designed to support and grow regional arts ecosystems by fostering long-term relationships and collaborations between emerging artists and arts organisations across the country. Four projects have been selected for each of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Site Gallery will be the lead organisation for England.

Sheffield is England’s 4th largest city with an estimated population of 2000 artists. A significant art school, a vibrant D.I.Y. creative scene, artist-focused institutions and affordable rents has produced a supportive, engaged and well-networked art scene. Like most regional centres it is not possible to exclusively make a living as an artist
in Sheffield.

“The Freelands Artist Programme enables Site Gallery to offer artists an extraordinary opportunity to develop their practice. We’ve worked hard to learn what we can do to support artists to thrive in the city and this project builds upon many years of investing in artists and partnership working. It’s a huge accolade and the impact will be phenomenal.”Laura Sillars, Artistic Director, Site Gallery

“As we re-launch Site Gallery in September this year it will be a joy to announce the first cohort of 5 artists that we’ll be working with in the following year. This project could not have come at a better time for Site and the city!”Judith Harry, Executive Director, Site Gallery